This morning was critical: it was Teresa's presentation. It went VERY well. I hung around for a bit afterwards then I headed out to explore.
And ran into the shopping mecca�.
The USSR "gave" Warsaw the College of Science and Industry. This is a large, imposing building downtown. The Warsaw people HATE it, referring to it as "Stalin's gift" (and not quite spitting after saying it).
The building is actually fairly nice, it is just the association that they don't like.
Well, within a stone's throw of that reminder of communist rule, a bastion of free enterprise has sprung up; an open air market the likes of which I have never seen before. It made the one in Krakow pale by comparison.
I smiled, knowing I had found a place that Teresa would enjoy. It turns out that I made more than just Teresa happy.
Teresa met Francis W., the Dean of the Education department at College of Charleston, and one of the College of Charleston graduate students, Joanna and Fran C, one of Teresa's favorite professors from Cof C. It turns out that we were on the same floor of the hotel. Teresa invited them to join us for shopping. Teresa, Francis W., Joanna and I set out.
Saying those ladies were like kids in a candy store is an understatement. That market had an incredible variety of things and the prices were simply amazing. My job was to scout around and (frequently) to hold packages while they were buying.
It was a very fun time.
That evening, we went on the "Evening of Elegance" which was a Chopin recital (he spent a fair amount of time in Warsaw) and a very nice dinner.